Honda Nsx MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 31 model years and 2,005 tests, the Honda Nsx passes its MOT 94.1% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 21.1% of the time, so this is 15.2pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.2%) and emissions & environmental (1.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and registration plates — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 53 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Nsx fails 4.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 8.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Nsx model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 330 | 94.8% | 5.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 98 | 98.0% | 2.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 89 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 43 | 86.1% | 14.0% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 127 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 119 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 102 | 93.1% | 6.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1998 | 71 | 87.3% | 12.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 59 | 94.9% | 5.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 57 | 98.3% | 1.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 31 | 100.0% | 0.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 83 | 94.0% | 6.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 59 | 96.6% | 3.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 40 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 72 | 98.6% | 1.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 43 | 97.7% | 2.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2016 | 65 | 96.9% | 3.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 335 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 65 | 96.9% | 3.1% | Other defects |
| 2019 | 56 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Other defects |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 65 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 28 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 24 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 22 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.9% | 17 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.5% | 11 |
| 8 | Suspension | 0.3% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 53 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 26 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 5 | Wipers | 17 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 13 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 11 |
| 8 | Washers | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.3% | 166 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.0% | 80 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.6% | 73 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 50 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 47 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.0% | 41 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 654 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 492 | 5.5% |
| 60-90k | 398 | 6.3% |
| 90-120k | 283 | 7.8% |
| 120-150k | 101 | 5.9% |
| 150k+ | 76 | 6.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,549 | 6.1% |
| Hybrid | 456 | 5.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 395 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 398 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 413 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 394 | 3.3% |
| 2025 | 405 | 6.4% |
What to check before buying a Honda Nsx
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (1.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Honda Nsx?
94.1% of the 2,005 Honda Nsx MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 5.9% fail rate, across model years 1990–2020.
What does the Honda Nsx most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.2% of tests, then emissions & environmental (1.4%).
How much does mileage affect Nsx MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 6.6% for 150k+, a 1.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,005 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.